You almost make it sound as if there hadn't been any good people around here before you came along
I apologize for any offensive tone. I literally pounded that message out seconds before running out the door.
The question was "have your actions had any effect," not "have the actions of others had any effect." I feel that my actions have had a significant effect, which I am arguing. If you would like to argue that they have not, or that it was a group action that my attempts had nothing to do with, feel free. I won't jump on you. Obviously, I could not have changed anything in an atmosphere that was completely unreceptive to change.
Honestly, though, I feel like I really put myself out on a limb with some of the things I say here, so I feel a rather strong desire to take credit for any positive results--since I feel that I'll be forced to eat crow if I slip.
I would have added, had I had time, that I used to share those sexist viewpoints myself (along with racism and homophobia, but that's not what this topic is about). If you can think of it, I probably believed it. All of it. I refused to read anything written by women, since I thought it would be inferior by its very nature. That changed slowly, partially due to a French course where the works were nearly all written by women, which I felt obligated to read and was surprised to enjoy. Then I got chewed out
extensively by some people on the internet and in real life, which changed a lot of how I saw things. And yes, I did thank them, and yes, I'm still very embarrassed about it.
My views on all of this have changed a great deal in the past year. I have compassion for those who disagree with me, because I was one of those people once. At the same time, one of the reasons why I get so angry is because I
know that I just didn't get it whenever I was politely reprimanded. I could just go on my way and remind myself not to say X or Y around Z person. I never changed the way I thought. I kept thinking, about myself and other people, "We can't do this because we just aren't as valuable. Men are the important ones. They're the smart ones who can think logically--not me." I believed every single piece of bullshit rhetoric that ever came from any institution. Everything pro-male, that is.
These things come up, and I fight it because I know what I did, so casually, to other people, without even noticing. I have been cruel. Knowing that, I would like to help other people toss away these foolish notions. I keep on thinking: "Please, let there be no more of this."
You almost make it sound like everyone is defensive here (that's to all previous three posters, and the instigator).
Sorry... ?